The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide to Opening a Veteran Housing Program By Robert R. Pierce III

The Mission: House Veterans, Build Wealth, Serve Your Community

If you've ever wanted to make a real difference in the lives of veterans while building a sustainable income stream, this guide is for you. Whether you're a veteran yourself, a landlord, or an entrepreneur with a heart for service, the VA has multiple programs designed to help you house veterans—and get paid for it.

This guide will walk you through exactly how to do it, step by step, using the same strategies that successful providers have used to build thriving veteran housing programs across America.

📌 The Three Main VA Housing Programs

Program	What It Is	Best For
HUD-VASH	Section 8 voucher + VA case management	Veterans experiencing homelessness
HCHV (Healthcare for Homeless Veterans)	Residential treatment + supportive services	Veterans with mental health/substance use needs
Medical Foster Home	In-home care for veterans in your personal residence	Veterans needing daily assistance (cooking, cleaning, med reminders)

🏠 Option 1: HUD-VASH (The Easiest Path)

This is the most straightforward way to get started. You rent out rooms or entire homes to veterans, and the VA pays you directly.

Step-by-Step Process

Step	Action	Details
1	Go to va.gov	Scroll down to "Housing Assistance"
2	Click "National Call Centers for Homeless Veterans"	Then go to "VA Programs for Homeless Veterans"
3	Find the HUD-VASH program	This is where veterans get vouchers and case management
4	Go to the Landlord's Page	Fill out the application to become a HUD-VASH landlord
5	List your available units	Use the VA's Landlord Contact Form

Key Detail: You're paid per bedroom, not per bed. Rates range from $850 to $1,200 per room depending on your location . This is a critical point—anyone telling you it's "per bed" doesn't know the program.

The Play: You can rent an entire house, individual rooms, or an apartment. No license required for independent living models.

Option 2: HCHV (Healthcare for Homeless Veterans)

This program serves veterans who need more support—including mental health care, substance use treatment, and medical oversight.

What You Need to Know

Requirement	Detail
Licensing	Unlicensed group homes may qualify with a boarding home permit (where available)
Staffing	You'll need staff to help with medication, daily living, and supervision
Service Stacking	You can combine this with a home health agency to provide more services
Business Structure	Keep your group home business separate from your home care agency—two separate entities

Pro Tip: If you have a home health agency, you can service-stack it with your group home to provide more comprehensive care and increase your revenue.

🏡 Option 3: Medical Foster Home (The Most Personal)

This program allows you to provide foster care for veterans in your own home.

Step-by-Step Process

Step	Action	Details
1	Search "VA Medical Foster Home" on va.gov	Click on the program page
2	Contact the program coordinator	A staff member will come to your home to do an initial intake assessment
3	Pass the home inspection	They'll give you a pre-check list to help you prepare
4	Care for up to 3 veterans	Provide assistance with cooking, cleaning, and medication reminders
5	Drop off at adult daycare if needed	Veterans can spend the day at a local adult daycare center while you work

Pay Range: $2,500–$6,500 per month per veteran (most common range is $3,000–$6,000). This is a full-time income for caring for veterans in your own home.

📋 The Marketing Masterclass: How to Fill Your Beds

The VA won't bring veterans to your door automatically—you have to go get them. Here's how successful providers do it.

1. Volunteer at VA Medical Centers

Why It Works: You build relationships with decision-makers. The VA is a bureaucracy—every department has its own person in charge of helping veterans. Volunteering gets you face time with them.

How to Do It:

• Go to va.gov/locations and find your nearest VA Medical Center

• Click on "Become a Volunteer"

• Email the volunteer coordinator and express interest

• During volunteering, network with staff using this opener: "What do you do for a living?" → "Oh, so what do you do outside of volunteering?" → "Well, I house the homeless veteran population. We're always looking for more residents to serve. What do you do?"

The Magic: I've walked out of volunteer shifts with 10+ referrals. People love to talk about what they do—and when you present yourself as a solution, they remember you.

2. Build a Marketing Spreadsheet

Column	What to Track
Phone Number	Call first—sound confident, know your stuff
Email	Send a bi-weekly blast (3x/month) to stay top-of-mind
Address	Drop off flyers, goodie bags, or plan a lunch-and-learn

Where to Find Contacts:

• Texas Veterans Commission

• Wounded Warrior Project

• Purple Heart Foundation

• DAV (Disabled American Veterans)

• American Legion

• Local homeless shelters for veterans

• Any organization that serves veterans

Phone Script:

Connecting Veterans with Specialized Independent Living Services

Phone Script:

"Hi, I'm calling because I have a shared independent living housing program specialized for veterans. We offer [services: transportation, meals, home health support, etc.]. I'd love to connect with you and showcase what we're doing. Do you have time this week?"

3. Host Lunch-and-Learns

Who to Invite: Discharge planners, social workers, case managers, nurses—anyone who refers veterans to housing.

What to Do:

• Bring donuts, sandwiches, or catered lunch

• Showcase a video tour of your property with happy residents (or happy stock photos)

• Present a professional PowerPoint highlighting your mission and services

• Leave flyers and business cards behind

Why It Works: Social workers don't just need a house—they need to know you're trustworthy. When you show up with a polished presentation and smiling residents, you build confidence.

4. Wear Your Company Brand

The Strategy: When you're out in public, wear a shirt with your company name.

The Result: People will ask what you do. You'll get referrals from strangers at the grocery store, the doctor's office, and even waiting in line. I've placed veterans just from wearing my nonprofit shirt.

5. Network with Nonprofits

Why It Works: Veterans go to organizations that help them. If you want to house veterans, go where the help is.

What to Do:

• Look up "nonprofits that help veterans"

• Reach out to Wounded Warrior, Purple Heart, DAV, American Legion

• Use their contact forms, live chat, or email

• Build relationships with their referral teams

🔄 The Program Stack: How Veterans Get Housing

Step	Who's Involved	What Happens
1	Veteran	Veteran becomes homeless or at risk
2	VA Medical Center or Nonprofit	Veteran is connected to a case manager or social worker
3	Case Manager/Social Worker	They look for available housing options
4	You (The Provider)	You list your available beds with the VA or nonprofit
5	Veteran	Veteran is placed in your housing program
6	VA/Government	You receive guaranteed payments for housing the veteran

Your job is to position yourself as the person they call when they need a placement. The steps above are how you do that.

💡 Key Success Principles

Principle	Why It Matters
Sound confident on the phone	If you don't believe in yourself, no one else will
Follow up consistently	3 emails per month (beginning, middle, end) keeps you top of mind
Show up in person	Drop off flyers, bring donuts, plan lunch-and-learns
Be visible	Wear your brand, volunteer, network constantly
Build trust	Showcase happy residents, clean properties, and professional presentations

🔥 The Bottom Line

You don't need a license to get started. You don't need a million dollars. You don't need to be a real estate expert.

What you need is:

• A willingness to serve

• A property (your own home, a rental, or a house you buy with your VA loan)

• A commitment to building relationships with the people who refer veterans

• A system for marketing and follow-up

"If you're tired of working a 9-to-5 job and want to do something impactful, this is a great opportunity. The VA has programs waiting for you to step up."